Chase for Sprint Cup still will offer plenty of drama with Kyle Busch out of contention

AP PhotoKyle Busch, right, just missed the cut for NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup after finishing fifth at Richmond on Saturday. Look for him to play spoiler for the 12 drivers who did make the 10-race playoffs.

Someone made the point a couple weeks ago that NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup would be a whole lot more interesting if Kyle Busch qualified for the 10-race playoff.

We now will find out that having Busch play the role of the spoiler for the 12 drivers who did make it will be entertaining as well.

Busch, the outspoken, controversial driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, just missed the cut after finishing fifth in Saturday's Chevy's Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond, the final race before the Chase. He ended up 13th in points, just eight behind Brian Vickers for the last playoff spot.

Still, there is plenty to like about the Chase, which begins with Sunday's 1 p.m. race in New Hampshire.

THE DRIVERS

Here's who's in the Chase and their points:

• 1. Mark Martin -- 5,040

• 2. Tony Stewart -- 5,030

• 3. Jimmie Johnson -- 5,030

• 4. Denny Hamlin -- 5,020

• 5. Kasey Kahne -- 5,020

• 6. Jeff Gordon -- 5,010

• 7. Kurt Busch -- 5,010

• 8. Brian Vickers -- 5,010

• 9. Carl Edwards -- 5,000

• 10. Ryan Newman -- 5,000

• 11. Juan Pablo Montoya -- 5,000

• 12. Greg Biffle -- 5,000

Here are five of them.

1. Variety
A year ago, Rick Hendrick Motorsports, Fenway-Roush Racing, Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing each qualified three drivers to fill out the field. This year, eight teams are sending drivers to the Chase.

2. New blood
It's not the same old faces this year, with seven drivers in who didn't qualify last year. That includes Brian Vickers and Juan Pablo Montoya, who qualified for their first time.

Plus, we hadn't seen Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin in the Chase since 2006 and Ryan Newman since '05.

3. History
Jimmie Johnson could give us a chance to witness history. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip never won four consecutive championships. Johnson is trying to become the first.

4. Mark Martin
Martin has vaulted to the top of the point standings thanks to his four victories. He continues to be one of the sport's most popular drivers, and a championship would be the first for arguably NASCAR's best driver never to win a title.

5. Kyle Busch
Yeah, I know Busch isn't in the Chase. But he will be motivated as if he were. Busch wearing a chip on his shoulder? That will be fun. I wouldn't be surprised if he won three or four of the final 10 races.